So the bulbs went in the Mondeo the other day. One in the morning, then the other in the afternoon.

Off to Halfords for replacements, and as most men do, decline the fitting option. How hard can it be? Well 90 minutes later and a torx driver and screwdriver, I'm wishing I'd got the guy in Halfords to do it.

Why do car manufacturers have to make it so hard?

Simple answer: the safety bods have stuck their noses in. Everything is optimised for safety. That's why i love my classic cars. Nearly everything is held on with 2 screws

How old is the Mondeo? Mk3 couldn't be easier, grille off, two slide bolts out to remove the lights and Bobs your uncle.

How old is the Mondeo? Mk3 couldn't be easier, grille off, two slide bolts out to remove the lights and Bobs your uncle.

The Mk3 was a PITA, but nothing compared to the MK4.

At least it wasn't a Megane!

How old is the Mondeo? Mk3 couldn't be easier, grille off, two slide bolts out to remove the lights and Bobs your uncle.

The Mk3 was a PITA, but nothing compared to the MK4.

Sounds no harder than a MK II Octy if you ask me.

Personally, I like enough space around the back to just get your hands in, unscrew a cover and swap the bulb.

These days cars are being tightly packed with as much kit as possible, in the smallest space possible.

As such the ability to leave space in places is somewhat reduced and so maintenance becomes harder.

I do sometimes wonder if a person got stopped and fined in france for a light blowing and not putting a spare in at the roadside, if they couldn't sue the manufacturer if it's a front bumper off job.

I mean really you should be able to change all the major lights on a car, on a dark roadside in only a few minutes, with the aid of a torch at most.

Space or access behind the headlight is irrelevant on the Octavia, remove a nut, pull a lever, disconnect the electrical connector and the headlight slides out on rails.

Great design, maybe Ford should have bought one to review when developing the Mk 4

But the headlights come out in the mk3 with two vertical slide bolts - for some reason this isn't the method in the mk4 but there looks to be plenty of room anyway.

But the headlights come out in the mk3 with two vertical slide bolts - for some reason this isn't the method in the mk4 but there looks to be plenty of room anyway.

The back of the light is against part of the frame, so has to come out. The bumper is holding the light in at one side, and the wrap around sides clip in. You basically have to wiggle it free, then try to do the same going back in.

Still as above not as bad as Renault or (I was told yesterday) the Nissan Micra

At least it wasn't a Megane!

indeed, wheel off, jacked up ,through the wheel arch! pmsl....

I sometimes wonder if it isnt a case of cars being (relatively) more reliable than they were in years gone by. As such, cars are spending less time back at the dealership being fixed and the dealers are losing out on trade.

I wonder if the manufacturers are making what should be relatively simple jobs, such as bulb changes etc, more and more complex, in the hope of discouraging the DIY'ers from sorting it themselves, causing them to go back to the dealerships for the work, thus recovering the lost trade.

Corsa D is a bumper off job!